Partitioned container



Aug. 25, 1964 M. G. FRANKLIN, JR

PARTITIONED CONTAINER 5 Sheets-Sheec L Filed March 12 1963 //VV/V TOR4402/05 6. FRANKLIN, .72.

ATTORNEYS g- 25, 1964 M. G. FRANKLIN, JR 3,145,903

PARTITIONED CONTAINER Filed March 12, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 1N VEN TOR.

MAI/R105 6. FRANKLIALJB.

flaw 1773423 A TTORNEYS Aug. 25, 1964 M. G. FRANKLIN, JR

PARTITIONED CONTAINER 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 //vv/v TOR lY/IURICE G. FRANKL/MJB.

B) 5 ATTORNEYS Filed March 12, 1963 United States Patent 3,145,903PARTITIONED CONTAINER Maurice G. Franklin, Jr., Mnncie, Ind, assignor toSt. Joe Paper Company, Jacksonville, Fla., a corporation of FloridaFiled Mar. 12, 1963, Ser. No. 264,510 11 Claims. (Cl. '22927) Thisinvention relates to improvements in containers, and more particularlyconcerns a container typically formed of corrugated fibreboard or thelike and constructed to provide a plurality of cells or compartments.

A general object of this invention is to provide an improved partitionedcontainer.

A further general object of the invention is the provision of animproved collapsible partitioned container.

Another general object is the provision of an integral blank foldableinto a collapsible partitioned container.

Particular objects of the invention are to provide an integral prescoredand precut blank for folding into a collapsed container for shipmentthereof, and in use such container is readily erected into a containerhaving multiple compartments.

A specific object is the provision of a collapsed container which iseasily erected into a usable container with an automatically self-lockedbottom and an automatically self-erected liner dividing the containerinto four compartments.

Another specific object of the invention is to provide an improvedcontainer quickly erectable from a collapsed position into its operativeset-up position having multiple compartments with only a very few simplehand manipulations.

An additional specific object is the provision of a method of setting upa collapsed container into an integral container in which the bottomportion is automatically locked and the liner portion automaticallydivides the container into four compartments.

The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of thisinvention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. Theinvention itself, however, both as to its organization and method ofoperation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, maybest be understood by reference to the following description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of an integral prescored and precut blank inaccord with the invention which may be folded and erected into thepartitioned container;

FIGURE 2 is a side perspective view of the container in its uncollapsedposition and prior to the manipulation of the liner and bottom portionsinto their final set-up positions;

FIGURE 3 is a partial view similar to FIGURE 2 and broken away to moreclearly show the liner and bottom portions prior to set-up;

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 3 showing the liner and bottomportions in an intermediate stage of container set-up;

FIGURE 5 is a partial side perspective view of the top portion of thecontainer showing the liner portion in its final operative positiondividing the set-up container into four compartments; and

FIGURE 6 is a view similar to FIGURE 5 showing the self-locked bottomand liner portions in their final set-up positions in the container.

Referring now more particularly to FIGURE 1 there is provided anintegral prescored and precut blank 10 cut from a substantiallyrectangular sheet of single wall corrugated fibreboard with a minimum ofwaste thereof. The light broken lines 11 generally indicate fold lines,hinge lines or crease lines scored on blank 10; heavy broken lines 12generally indicate fold lines, hinge lines or crease lines rouletted onblank 10; and full lines 13 generally indicate cuts extending throughthe fibreboard blank 10. In accordance with this invention, the integralblank 10 comprises a top portion 15, a body portion 16, a bottom portion17 and a liner portion 18, more particularly described hereinbelow.

Body portion 16 includes four side wall panels 20, 21, 22 and 23,adjacent wall panels being connected by parallel wall angle fold lines24. Each of the wall panels 20 to 23 has a pair of side edges,collectively designated at 38 and 39, substantially parallel to foldlines 24. A top common fold line 25 extends substantiallyperpendicularly to fold lines 24 and to wall panel side edges 38 and 39,and forms the upper edges 26 of wall panels 20 to 23 to which respectivelower edges, collectively designated at 27, of top panels 30, 31, 32 and33 are connected.

A bottom common fold line 35, shown herein as a double fold line, isspaced from and is oriented substantially parallel to top common foldline 25 and perpendicularly to fold lines 24, and forms the lower edges,collectively designated at 28, of wall panels 20 to 23 to whichrespective upper edges, collectively designated at 29, of bottom panels40, 41, 42 and 43 are connected. Ventilating apertures 34 may be severedthrough blank 10 in the usual manner, if desired.

Top portion 15 comprises a pair of side panels 30 and 32, and a pair ofend panels 31 and 33, side panels 30 and 32 being connected to side wallpanels 20 and 22 by top common fold line 25, and end panels 31 and 33being similarly connected to end wall panels 21 and 23. As illustrated,the top end panels 31 and 33 respectively include protruding lockingflanges 45 and 46 foldable into locking position on respective foldlines 47 and 48 upon closure of top portion 15. Each of the top sidepanels 30 and 32 has respective flange receiving slots 49 and 50 forreceiving therein the locking flanges 45 and 46 upon proper folding ofthe top portion 15. Side panel 30 includes a pair of protruding tabs 51and 52 foldable on score lines 51 and 52', and slot 49 is locatedbetween tabs 51 and 52. Side panel 32 is also provided with protrudingtabs 53 and 54, identical to tabs 51 and 52 with slot 50 located betweentabs 53 and 54.

Each of the upper edges 29 of bottom panels 40 to 43 is approximatelyequal to and coextensive with each of the corresponding lower edges 28of the wall panels 20 to 23. Each of the lower edges 55, 56, 57 and 58of the respective bottom panels 40 to 43 is approximately one half thelength of each of the upper edges 29 thereof. As depicted, the bottomportion 17 includes a plurality of cut-outs '60 substantially in theshape of a right triangle whereby bottom panels 40 to 43 aresubstantially in the shape of a trapezoid, as will appear more fullyhereinafter.

Side edges 61, 62, 63 and 64 of respective bottom panels 40 to 43 areoriented substantially parallel to and spaced slightly inwardly fromrespective side edges 39 of wall panels 20 to 23, edges 61 to 64spanning between respective bottom panel upper edges 29 and thecorresponding lower edges 55 to 58 of bottom panels 40 to 43. Theinclined side edges 66, 67, 68 and 69 of respective bottom panels 40 to43 extend from approximately the respective side edges 38 of wall panels20 to 23 inwardly and inclinedly toward bottom panel side edges 61 to 64to and intersecting respective bottom panel lower edges 55 to 58 atrespective junctures 70, 7'1, 72 and 73. The bottom panel upper edges 29are substantially coextensive with lower edges 28 of wall panels 29 to23, whereas each of the bottom panel lower edges 55 to 58 have a lengthapproximating one-half the length of each of the bottom panel upperedges 29.

Liner portion 18 comprises four liner panels 80, 81, 82 and 83, andadjacent panels are connected by parallel (3 hinge lines, collectivelydesignated at 84 and specifically shown herein as being rouletted lines,hinge lines 84 extending substantially parallel to wall panel side edges38 and 39 and to bottom panel side edges 61 to 64. Hinge lines 84 arelocated insubstantial alignment with and parallel to fold lines 24 ofbody portion 16, and when the blank 10 is folded on double fold 35, foldlines 24 and hinge lines 84 become juxtaposed. Each of the panels 80 to83 is approximately bisected by respective median crease lines 86 to 89which are oriented parallel to hinge lines 84 and terminate atrespective junctures 70 to 73 as illustrated. Each of the liner panels80 to 83 has a pair of side edges, collectively designated at 90 and 91,which are parallel to hinge lines 84 and to crease lines 86 to 89. Thepanel sections 93, 94, 95 and 96, which respectively extend between sideedges 91 and its corresponding crease lines 86 to 89, have respectiveupper edges 97, 98, 99 and 100 connected to respective bottom panellower edges 55 to 58. The upper edges 101, 102, 103 and 104 ofrespective panel sections 105, 106, 107 and 108, respectively spanbetween side edges 90 and its corresponding crease lines 86 to 89. Eachof the panel section upper edges 101 to 104 are offset a minimumdistance downwardly from and parallel to each of the panel section upperedges 97 to 100 to provide proper tolerances and to permit the linerportion 18 to properly fit onto the foundation bottom portion 17 afterblank 10 is folded and set-up, as hereinafter more fully described.

The lower edge 110 of blank 10 is interrupted by slots or cut-outs 111,112, 113 and 114 in respective panel sections 105, 94, 107 and 96.Cut-outs 111 and 114 are provided with slot defining verticallyextending edges 155 and160, and cut-out 112 includes a pair of edges 156and 157, and cut-out 113 also includes a pair of edges 158 and 159.After the blank 10 is properly folded and liner portion 18 ismanipulated to set-up the container in its position shown in FIGURES and6, slot 111 will register with slot 114 and slot 112 will register withslot 113 thereby permitting the reception thereinto of locking tabs 45and 46 of top portion 15.

While cut-outs 60 have been described hereinabove as being completelyremoved from blank 10, it is to be understood that under appropriatecircumstances it is possible for the triangular portions which werecut-out (not shown) to remain attached to bottom panel inclined sideedges 66 to 69 as surplusage, for example. However, triangular cut-outs60 could, in any event, only be hinged on one of its triangular edges inorder that the blank be operative to form a container in the mannerhereinafter set forth, and since such cut-outs do not enhance theusefulness or operability of the present container, they have beenomitted.

In accordance with this invention the blank 10 of FIG- URE 1 is erectedinto the partially set-up container 125, shown in FIGURES 2 and 3, byfirst folding the blank 10, as shown, on the double fold lines 35,thereby positioning hinge lines 84 to a location approximately beneathand juxtaposed with wall angle fold lines 24; simultaneously foldingwall panel 20 downwardly on its wall angle fold line 24 and liner panel80 on its hinge line 84 thereby positioning liner panel 80 beneath linerpanel 81 with the liner panels 80 and 81 being nested between wallpanels 20 and 21; simultaneously folding wall 23 downwardly on its wallangle fold line 24 and liner panel 83 on its hinge line 84 therebypositioning liner panel 83 beneath liner panel 82 with the liner panels82 and 83 being nested between wall panels 22 and 23; and joiningadjacent respective edge 38 of wall panel 20 and edge 39 of wall panel23 by tape 126, as shown in FIGURES 2 and 3. The container 125 is thenin its collapsed or flattened condition ready for packing with similarcollapsed containers for ultimate shipment thereof.

The collapsed container 125 assumes the rectangular shape, depicted inFIGURE 2, by merely exerting inward- 1y directed forces on outerdiagonally disposed wall angles, including wall angle 127 which iscoextensive with the side edge 39 of panel 20 in FIGURE 1, the container125 in FIGURE 2 being shown with the top panels 30, 31, 32 and 33 foldeddownwardly at right angles on the top common fold line 25. In thecollapsed position of the container 125, the top panels 30 to 33 areunderstood to be coplanar with the respective wall panels 20 to 23 whichare in juxtaposition with respective liner panels to 83.

Container 125 is fully set-up by performing the manipulations of themethod set forth below, such manipulations being most clearly shown withparticular reference to FIGURES 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6. Inwardly directedforces are exerted on each of the median crease lines 86 to 89, as shownby respective arrows 130 to 133, which may, for example, be applied bygripping or grasping one pair of liner panel sections 97 and 102 in onehand and exerting a compressive force tending to press same together,and similarly grasping the diagonally opposite pair of liner panelsections 99 and 104 in the other hand and exerting a similar compressiveforce. Simultaneously, the liner portion 18 is twisted or forciblyrotated clockwise in the direction of arrow 135, and a pressure,directed downwardly toward the bottom portion 17, is exerted on linerportion 18 thereby causing the liner portion 18 and bottom portion 17 tobe twisted and transposed from the position shown in FIGURES 2 and 3 toan intermediate position shown in FIGURE 4. Upon further twisting orrotating of liner portion 18 in the direction of 'arrow 135, bottomportion 17 automatically forms a selflocked bottom 140 of the container125, as illustrated in FIGURE 6, and liner portion 17 automaticallyforms a self-erected liner 141 dividing container 125 into four cells orcompartments 142, 143, 144 and 145, as depicted in FIGURES 5 and 6.

The fully set-up container 125, as is clearly depicted in FIGURE 6,includes the unitary set-up liner portion 18 assuming itscross-sectional shape of a double walled cross or star divider 141. Theliner or divider 141 includes elongated upright elements 165, 166, 167and 168 which are the outer extremities of the double walled crossdivider 141, elements 165, 166 and 167 being co-extensive with roulettedhinge lines 84, and element 168 being co-extensive with edges and 91 ofrespective liner panel sections and 96. Elements 165, 166, 167 and 168are located intermediate of and adjacent respective wall panels 21, 22,23, and 20. The elongated rectangular compartment 143, for example, isbounded on its sides by liner panel sections 105 and 93 andapproximately onehalf of the elongated wall panels 20 and 21 of bodyportion 16, and is bounded on its ends by bottom panel 40 and one-halfof top panel 30 to which tab 22 is connected. It is to be noted that thepanel 30 to which tab 22 is connected. It is to be noted that the panelsection 105 is slotted by cut-out 111, but approximately one-half oflocking flange 45 substantially fills such cut-out 111, flange 45 andliner panel section 105 being substantially coplanar after top portion18 closingly completes the full set-up and filled container 125. Theother compartments 142, 144 and 146 are bounded by the correspondingcomponents of container which may be ascertained by study of thedrawings herein in the light of the above specifically describedcompartment 143.

Bottom panel 40 is seen to overlie and overlap bottom panel 41 inwardlyof inclined edge 67, and it is obvious that bottom panel 41 adjacentedge 62 overlies bottom panel 42 in substantially the same manner asdescribed in connection with bottom panels 40 and 41. Similarly, bottompanel 42 overlies a portion of bottom panel 43, and bottom panel 43overlaps a portion of bottom panel 40. The free edge 101 of liner panelsection 105 is located adjacent and rests on bottom panel 40, edge 102of liner panel section 106 rests on bottom panel 41, edge 103 of linerpanel section 107 rests on bottom panel 42,

and edge 104 of liner panel section 108 rests on bottom panel 43.

After container 125 is in its completely set-up condition shown inFIGURE and the contents, if any, are packed within respective cells orcompartments 142 to 145, the top portion 15 is closed by the foldingprocedure hereinafter set forth. Tabs 53 and 54 are folded downwardly oneach of their respective crease lines 53' and 54', thereafter top sidepanel 32 is folded on the top common fold line 25. The folded tab 54 isinserted into the upper end of V-shaped channel 150 between liner panelsections 95 and 108 and folded tab 53 is inserted into a similar andoppositely facing V- shaped channel 151 between panel sections 93 and106. Tabs 51 and 52 on top side panel 30 are folded on their respectivefold lines 51 and 52', and panel 30 is folded on the top common foldline 25, thereafter the folded tabs 51 and 52 are inserted into theupper ends of respective V-shapped channels 150 and 151 in the samemanner as previously described in connection with tabs 53 and 54 of topside panel section 32, whereby tabs 51 and 54 are nested within channel150 and tabs 52 and 53 are nested within channel 151. Top side panels 30and 32 rest on and are supported by the liner lower edge 111) of blank10, however, it is obvious that such edge constitutes the upperextremity of liner portion 18 when blank is folded into container 125with liner portion 18 assuming the cross-sectional shape of a doublewalled cross or star divider 141.

The slots 112 and 113 in respective liner panel sections 94 and 107register, as shown in FIGURE 5, and the slots 111 and 114 of respectivepanels 105 and 96 register in the set-up position of container 125.Slots 111 and 112 are substantially coplaner and the oppositely facingslots 113 and 114 are substantially coplanar, all of these slotsdefining an elgonated flange receiving edge recess, indicated at 161,the elongated recess 161 being bounded by vertically extending edges155, 156, 159 and 160. After top side panels 32 and 30 are folded intotheir closed positions with tabs 51 and 54 within V- shaped channel 150and tabs 52 and 53 within V-shaped channel 151, flange receiving slots49 and 50 of respective top side panels 30 and 32 are aligned andregister with recess 161 and form therewith a continuous elongatedsocket (not shown) for the reception of the locking flanges 45 and 4-6of respective top end panels 31 and 33. After locking flanes 45 and 46are folded on their respective fold lines 47 and 48, top end panels 31and 30 are then folded on the common fold line 25 and the lockingflanges 45 and 46 are inserted within the elongated socket (not shown)in locking engagement therewithin.

It has been demonstrated that the container 125 may be fabricated forshipment in its collapsed position, thereafter such collapsed containermay be set-up by following the aforementioned manipulations in an easyand rapid manner without the necessity of any glue or stapling by theuser of such container. The bottom 140 of the container 125 isautomatically formed as the liner portion 18 is being twisted into itsself-erected dividing position shown in FIGURES 5 and 6.

Once the container 125 is erected and filled with the desiredmerchandise, the weight of such merchandise bears upon the bottom 140which will enhance the maintenance of the liner portion 141 in itsdividing position shown in FIGURES 5 and 6. Additionally, the weight ofthe merchandise within the compartments 143 to 145 assist in maintainingthe bottom 140 in its automatically locked position.

After the container is filled and the top portion is closed in themanner hereinabove set forth the upper end of the divider 141 (the loweredge 110 of liner portion 18 as described in FIGURE 1) provides aneffective internal structural support for the top portion upon itsclosure of container 125. Also, when the tabs 51 to 54 6 are insertedinto the upper ends of the V-channels and 15, such insertion assists inmaintaining the upper portion of divider 141 in its preselected dividerposition shown in FIGURE 5.

While only a certain preferred embodiment of this invention has beenshown and described by way of illustration, many modifications willoccur to those skilled in the art and it is, therefore, desired that itbe understood that it is intended in the appended claims to cover allsuch modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of thisinvention.

What is claimed as new and what it is desired to secure by LettersPatent of the United States is:

1. An integral substantially rectangular blank for folding into a fourcell rectangular container comprising a top portion, a body portion, abottom portion and a liner portion, said body portion including fourside wall panels and a wall angle fold line between adjacent wallpanels, each of said wall panels having an upper edge and a lower edge,said top portion including four top panels having lower edges connectedby fold lines to respective said wall panel upper edges, said bottomportion including four bottom trapezoidal panels having upper edges andlower edges, said upper edges of said bottom panels being approximatelytwice as long as said lower edges of said bottom panels, said bottompanel upper edges being connected by a fold line to and substantiallycoextensive with respective said wall panel lower edges, said linerportion including four liner panels each having side edges and an upperedge with said upper edge being approximately equal to said bottom panelupper edge, said liner portion having panel hinge lines respectivelybetween adjacent said liner panels and substantially parallel to saidliner panel side edges, said liner portion further having crease linessubstantially parallel to said panel hinge lines and respectively spacedsubstantially midway between each said liner panel side edges, each saidliner panel upper edge between one of its said side edge and its saidcrease line being connected to respective said bottom panel lower edge.

2. The blank as defined in claim 1 wherein said four top panels consistsof two side panels and two end panels, a respective locking flangehingedly attached to each said side panel along a fold line spacedupwardly from and parallel to said top panel lower edges, a pair ofspaced tabs hingedly attached to each said end panel along respectivefold lines spaced upwardly from and parallel to said top panel loweredges, each said end panel having a locking flange receiving slotbetween its respective said tabs, each said slot extending substantiallyperpendicularly to said top panel lower edges and terminating thereabovein a respective said end panel.

3. An integral substantially rectangular blank for folding into a fourcell rectangular container comprising a body portion, a bottom portionand a liner portion, said body portion including four side wall panelsand a wall angle fold line between adjacent wall panels, said wallpanels having upper edges and lower edges, said bottom portion includingfour bottom trapezoidal panels having upper edges and lower edges, saidupper edges of said bottom panels being approximately twice as long assaid lower edges of said bottom panels, said bottom panel upper edgesbeing connected by fold lines to and coextensive with respective saidwall panel lower edges, said liner portion including four liner panelshaving side edges and upper edges with said upper edges beingapproximately equal to said bottom panel upper edges, said liner portionhaving panel hinge lines respectively between ad jacent said linerpanels, said hinge lines extending substantially parallel to said panelside edges, said liner portion further having crease lines substantiallyparallel to said panel hinge lines and respectively spaced intermediateof each of said liner panel side edges, each said liner panel upper edgebetween one of its said side edge and its said crease line beingconnected to respective said bottom panel lower edge.

7 4. An integral substantially rectangular blank forfolding into a fourcell rectangular container comprising a top portion, a body portion, abottom portion and a liner portion, said body portion having threeparallel and spaced apart elongated fold lines forming four side wallpanels, said wall panels having upper edges and lower edges, said topportion including four top panels having lower edges connected by foldlines to respective said wall panel upper edges, said bottom portionincluding four bottom panels having upper edges and lower edges, saidbottom panel upper edges being connected by fold lines to respectivesaid wall panel lower edges, said liner portion including four linerpanel sections having side edges substantially parallel to said foldlines between said adjacent wall panels and upper edges, said sectionupper edges being connected by fold lines to respective said bottompanel lower edges, said liner portion further including fourintermediate liner panel sections having side edges parallel to saidsection side edges, said intermediate sections being intercalated withand connected by fold lines between a side edge of said section and itsadjacent side edge of said intermediate section whereby said panelsections and said intermediate panel sections are interconnected.

5. An integral blank for folding into a compartmented containercomprising a body portion, a bottom portion and a liner portion, saidbody portion including a plurality of side wall panels and a wall anglefold line between adjacent wall panels, said wall panels having upperedges and lower edges, said bottom portion including a plurality ofbottom panels having upper edges and lower edges, said bottom panelupper edges being approximately twice as long as said bottom panel loweredges, said bottom panel upper edges being connected by fold lines toand coextensive with respective said wall panel lower edges, said linerportion including a plurality of liner panels having side edges andupper edges with said upper edges being approximately equal to saidbottom panel upper edges, said liner portion having panel hinge linesrespectively between adjacent said liner panels, said hinge linesextending substantially parallel to said panel side edges, said linerportion further having crease lines substantially parallel to said panelhinge lines and respectively spaced intermediate of each said linerpanel side edges, each said liner panel upper edge between one of itssaid side edge and its said crease line being connected to respectivesaid bottom panel lower edge.

6. The method of setting up a collapsible compartmented unitaryrectangular container wherein said container includes a body portionhaving four side wall panels interconnected by wall angles, a bottomportion having four bottom panels connected to the wall panels, and aliner portion having four liner panels connected to the bottom panelsand interconnected by three spaced fold lines which extend substantiallyparallel to the wall angles of the body portion comprising applyinginwardy directed lateral forces to diagonally opposite compressed wallangles of the collapsed container thereby to orient the body portion inits erected rectangular position with the wall angles substantiallyequal, applying inwardly directed lateral forces to each of the linerpanels substantially intermediate thereof, simultaneously applying atwisting force to said liner portion and applying a downwardly directedforce thereto for erecting the liner into its dividing position withinthe container and for forming a self-locked bottom of the containerwhereby the container is partitioned into four compartments.

7. A unitary collapsible rectangular container comprising a body portionhaving four vertical wall panels connected to the next along and formingrespective wall angles, a bottom portion having four bottom panelsrespectively connected to said wall panels at the lower ends thereof, aunitary liner portion having four liner panels each hingedly attached torespective said bottom panels, said liner portion having three foldlines extending parallel to said wall angles and equally spaced on saidliner portion forming said liner panels, each said liner panel having amedian crease line extending substantially parallel to said fold linesof said liner panel portion, a respective said bottom panel and itsattached said liner panel lying adjacent respective said wall panel whenthe container is in its collapsed position, said bottom panels formingan automatically locked bottom closure for the container uponmanipulation of said liner portion from its collapsed position to itserected position, said liner portion dividing the container into fourcompartments in its erected position, each said liner panel includingside edges approximately parallel to said median crease lines, each saidside edge of each said liner panel being disposed approximately adjacentto and intermediate of respective adjacent said wall panels whereby eachsaid panel crease line is disposed diagonally opposite and parallel toone of said wall angles to form a respective compartment between eachsaid liner panel and adjacent said wall panels.

8. An integral collapsible rectangular container comprising a bodyportion, a bottom portion and a liner portion, said body portionincluding four vertical side wall panels connected to the next along andforming respective wall angles, a bottom portion having four bottompanels hinged to respective said wall panels at the lower ends thereof,a unitary liner portion having four liner panels wherein each linerpanel has a median crease line extending substantially parallel to saidwall angles, each said liner panel being attached to respective saidbottom panels between one of its said edges and its said median creaseline by a fold line extending substantially perpendicular to said creaseline and which extends substantially parallel to the hinged connectionbetween respective said wall panels and said bottom panels, said bottompanels forming an automatically locked bottom closure for the containerwhen the liner portion is manipulated from its collapsed position to itserected position, said liner portion dividing the container into fourcompartments in its erected position, each said compartment beingrectangular and bounded by a respective said liner panel and adjacentsaid wall panels wherein each said wall angle between adjacent wallpanels and respective said median crease line of respective said linerpanels are oriented diagonally opposite and parallel to each otherwhereby said liner portion divides the container into four compartments.

9. A unitary collapsible rectangular container comprising a body portionhaving four elongated vertical wall panels connected to the next alongand forming respective elongated wall angles, a bottom portion havingfour bottom panels respectively connected to said wall panels at thelower ends thereof, an elongated double-walled cross shaped unitaryliner extending between opposite said wall panels, said liner havingouter protruding elongated edges substantially parallel to andpositioned adjacent respective wall panels intermediate thereof, saidliner having edges perpendicular to said elongated edges, a portion ofeach said edge being connected to a respective bottom panel by a creaseline extending substantially perpendicular to said liner elongatededges, said bottom panels forming an automatically locked bottom closurefor the container upon manipulation of said liner portion into itserected position, said liner portion dividing the container into fourcompartments.

10. The integral container as defined in claim 8 further comprising atop portion having two side and two end top panels hinged to respectivesaid wall panels at the upper ends thereof, a pair of tabs protrudingfrom said oppositely facing top side panels and engageable with saidliner portion for maintaining said liner portion in its erected positiondividing the container into said four compartments.

11. The container as defined in claim 9 further comprising a top portionhaving two oppositely facing side panels and two oppositely facing endpanels, each said end panels and side panels of said top portion beinghingedly attached to the upper edges of respective said wall panels, apair of tabs protruding from said top side panels and engageable withsaid unitary liner to assist in maintaining said liner in itspreselected position dividing said container into said fourcompartments, each said side panel including a locking flange receivableslot between its said tabs, each said end panels including a lockingflange hinged thereto, each said slot being in registering alignmentupon engagement by said tabs with said liner, each said locking flangebeing insertable into said registered slots for locking said top portionof the container.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS PaigeAug. 16, 1955 Woelky May 10, 1960 McCormick Oct. 17, 1961 Younger May 1,1962 Keith Oct. 15, 1963 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OFCORRECTION Patent No 3, 145 5903 August .25 1964 Maurice Go Franklin Jr.

It is hereby certifiedv that error appears in the above numbered patentrequiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read ascorrected below.

Column 4, lines 54 and 55, strike out "It is to be noted that the panel30 to which tab 22 is connectedfl; column 5,, line 46 for "flanes" readflanges column 5 line 56 after "aforementioned" insert procedural Signedand sealed this 26th day of January 1965.

(SEAL) Atte'st:

ERNEST W. SWIDER' 1 EDWARD J. BRENNER Attesting Officer Commissioner ofPatents

1. AN INTEGRAL SUBSTANTIALLY RECTANGULAR BLANK FOR FOLDING INTO A FOURCELL RECTANGULAR CONTAINER COMPRISING A TOP PORTION, A BODY PORTION, ABOTTOM PORTION AND A LINER PORTION, SAID BODY PORTION INCLUDING FOURSIDE WAL PANELS AND A WALL ANGLE FOLD LINE BETWEEN ADJACENT WALL PANELS,EACH OF SAID WALL PANELS HAVING AN UPPER EDGE AND A LOWER EDGE, SAID TOPPORTIN INCLUDING FOUR TOP PANELS HAVING LOWER EDGES CONNECTED BY FOLDLINES TO RESPECTIVE SAID WALL PANEL UPPER EDGES, SAID BOTTOM PORTIONINCLUDING FOUR BOTTOM TRAPEZOIDAL PANELS HAVING UPPER EDGES AND LOWEREDGES, SAID UPPER EDGES OF SAID BOTTOM PANELS BEING APPROXIMATELY TWICEAS LONG AS SAID LOWER EDGES BEING CONNECTED BY A FOLD LINE TO ANDSUBSTANTIALLY COEXTENSIVE WITH RESPECTIVE SAID WALL PANEL LOWER EDGES,SAID LINER PORTION INCLUDING FOUR LINER PANELS EACH HAVING SIDE EDGESAND AN UPPER EDGE WITH SAID UPPER EDGE BEING APPROXIMATELY EQUAL TO SAIDBOTTOM PANEL UPPER EDGE, SAID LINER PORTION HAVING PANEL HINGE LINESRESPECTIVELY BETWEEN ADJACENT SAID LINER PANELS AND SUBSTANTIALLYPARALLEL TO SAID LINER PANEL SIDE EDGES, SAID LINER PORTION FURTHERHAVING CREASE LINES SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO SAID PANEL HINGE LINES ANDRESPECTIVELY SPACED SUBSTANTIALLY MIDWAY BETWEEN EACH SAID LINER PANELSAID EDGES, EACH SAID LINER PANEL UPPER EDGE BETWEEN ONE OF ITS SAIDSIDE EDGE AND ITS SAID CREASE LINE BEING CONNECTED TO RESPECTIVE SAIDBOTTOM PANEL LOWER EDGE.